Liquid dispensing means



J. C- LAUFER, SR

LIQUID DISPENSING MEANS March 19, 1968 Filed May 25, 1966 FWGB' INVEN'TOR.

TOHN C. LAUF'ER, SR.

H \s ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,373,902 LIQUID DISPENSING MEANSJohn C. Laufer, Sr., Louisville, Ky., assignor to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Filed May 25, 1966, Ser. No. 552,8428 Claims. (Cl. 222133) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Liquid additivedispensing means for a Washing machine. The dispensing means includesfluid amplifier means comprising a pair of fluid amplifiers. The firstfluid amplifier selectively directs incoming water either directly intothe washing machine wash chamber or into the second amplifier. When theincoming water is directed into it, the second amplifier aspirates theadditive from a container and directs a mixture of it and the water intothe wash chamber.

This invention relates generally to a means for dispensing a liquid and,more specifically, to such means particularly adapted for dispensing aliquid additive into an automatic Washing machine.

The present invention is particularly useful as a rinse aid injector foran automatic'dishwasher, a liquid detergent dispenser for either anautomatic dishwasher or an automatic clothes washer, or as a bleachdispenser for an automatic clothes washer, although obviously notlimited in usefulness to such applications. Most devices, of the naturejust mentioned, heretofore have involved relatively costly andmechanically complex arrangements. For example, the most common rinseaid injector in use today includes a very expensive solenoid to operatethe metering or dispensing mechanism. Since a solenoid is used, there isalso an additional switch required in the sequence control means toselectively and periodically energize the solenoid. Also, detergentdispensers or bleach dispensers usually involve mechanical deviceshaving moving parts susceptible to wear and resultant malfunction.Therefore it would be desirable to provide an improved liquid dispensingmeans, particularly adapted for dispensing a liquid additive into anautomatic washing machine, which is comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture but reliable in operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedliquid dispensing means.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved liquiddispensing means which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture butwhich provides comparatively reliable operation.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention,there is provided means to selectively dispense a liquid from acontainer into a receptacle including fluid amplifier means having twooutlets with each of the outlets communicating directly with thereceptacle. The fluid amplifier means have a first inlet incommunication with a source of liquid under pressure and a second inletcommunicating with the source of liquid to be dispensed. One of theoutlets from the fluid amplifier means is downstream from the secondinlet whereby liquid passing from the fluid amplifier means out theoutlet downstream from the second inlet aspirates liquid into the fluidamplifier means from the container and mixes this liquid with the liquidpassing through the fluid amplifier means for subsequent conveyance tothe receptacle.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention, it is believed the invention will be better understood fromthe following de- "ice scription taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:-

FIGURE 1 includes an elevational view, partially cut away to showdetails, of an automatic washing machine and a schematic illustration,in enlarged scale, of the liquid dispensing means of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the dispensing means ofFIGURE 1 shown in condition of operation different from that illustratedin FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG- URE 1 thereof, anautomatic washing machine in the form of an automatic dishwasher 10 isillustrated and includes an outer cabinet 11 defining therein a washchamber, or receptacle, 12. Disposed within wash chamber 12 aredishsupporting racks 13 and 14 which are adapted to receive and supportdishes to be washed within chamber 12. Access to chamber 12 is providedby means of a closure member or door 15 which is provided in one wall ofcabinet 11 and which is pivotally secured thereto by means of a hinge16.

The lower extremity of wash chamber 12 is defined by a bottom wall 17which has a centrally depressed portion forming a sump 18. Positionedwithin sump 18 and supported by bottom wall 17 is a motor-pump assembly19 which includes an electrically-reversible motor 20 and a pump 21.Pump 21 may be directly mechanically linked to motor 20 so that, whenmotor 20 is operated in one direction of rotation, pump 21 is rotated towithdraw wash fluid from sump 18 and propel it upwardly through arotatable reaction-type spray arm 22 from which the fluid is dischargedto generate a wash action Within wash chamber 12. In the other directionof rotation of motor 20, pump 21 is rotated to withdraw wash fluid fromsump 18 and propel it out through an effluent discharge conduit 23 whichcommunicates with anormal household sewer system (not shown).

Suitable sequence control means (not shown) may be provided to controlthe electrical energization of the motor 20 as well as any otherelectrical components necessary to carry out the washing operation ofdishwasher 10. Normally, an electrically-operated solenoid valve 24 isprovided in a conduit 25 to operate in response to the sequence controlmeans to control the admission of water to wash chamber 12. It is to beunderstood that conduit 25 is in liquid-receiving relationship with asource of Water under pressure such as, for example, the normalhousehold plumbing system. In the conventional installation, thedownstream side of valve 24 directly communicates with wash chamber 12so that water allowed to pass through valve 24 directly enters washchamber 12 until a suit-able quantity collects therein at which time thesequence control means closes valve 24. The admission of such additivesas detergent, rinse aid or bleach is conventionally controlled by thesequence control means through additional solenoids ormechanically-tripped, spring-loaded devices. The present inventionincorporates an addi tive dispensing means directly into the water fillsystem and, in so doing, obviates additional solenoids or springloaded,mechanically-tripped mechanisms.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved liquid dispensingmeans is incorporated into the water admission system. Downstream fromvalve 24 is a conduit 26 which conveys fluid from valve 24 to the maininlet 27 of a fluid amplifier or similar device 28. Fluid amplifier 28further includes a first outlet 29 and a second outlet 30 as Well as apair of control inlets 31 and 32. Outlet 29 communicates directly withwash chamber 12 by means of a conduit 33 which terminates adjacent toand immediately above an inlet funnel 34. Outlet 30 communicates withthe main inlet 35 of a second fluid amplifier 3 or similar device 36 bymeansof a conduit 37. Fluid amplifier 36 is substantially identical tofluid amplifier 28 and, in addition to main inlet 35, comprises a firstoutlet 38 and a second outlet 39 along with a pair of control inlets 40and 41. Outlet 38 communicates with wash chamber 12 in a manner similarto outlet 29 of fluid amplifier 28 by means of a conduit 42.

Fluid amplifiers, of the type illustrated, which is the type utilizing aside control jet to deflect a main fluid flow into one of several branchpassages, are well known. In this type of device a main flow passagewayis connected to a chamber from which branch passageways lead off. At thepoint where the main flow enters the chamber, side ports for passage ofcontrol fluid transverse to the main flow are provided which, byselectively allowing such control fluid to flow, will control the mainflow by deflecting it in the desired branch passage. These devices aretherefore referred to as fluid amplifiers due to the fact that a smallcontrol fluid flow may be utilized to control the flow of a large fluidstream. Naturally, an advantage of such control devices is the fact thatthe momentum of the primary flow stream is preserved and any pressuredrop across the device is relatively small. In addition, such devicesmay be made to be bi-stable. That is, once the primary stream isdeflected to flow through a given branch stream, the boundary layereffect between this stream and the flow passage walls tend to lock theprimary stream to flow in that direction.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the operation of the specific fluidamplifier 28 employed in the preferred embodiment will be presented, itbeing understood that operation of the fluid amplifier 36 issubstantially identical thereto. Water passing through valve 24 andconduit 26 enters fluid amplifier 28 through inlet 27 and is suppliedunder substantial pressure and potential mass flow. Water entering inlet27 passes through a passageway 43 and into a chamber 44. From chamber 44the water may exit through passageway 45 and then out through the firstoutlet 29 or it may exit from chamber 44 through passageway 46 and thenout through the second outlet 30. As is well known in the fluidamplifier art, control inlets 31 and 32 communicate with chamber 44 bymeans of passageways 47 and 48 respectively. A jet of control fluid,either air or water, may be applied to chamber 44 by either ofpassageway 47 or 48. In the most common arrangement, when a control jetenters chamber 44 from passageway 47 simultaneously with the main fluidflow from passageway 43, the resulting mixture exits from chamber 44through passageway 46. Chamber 44 and its adjoining passageways may beso designed that under the foregoing conditions, virtually no fluid willexit through passageway 45. Along the same lines, if a control jet isintroduced into chamber 44 from passageway 48, and if chamber 44 and theadjoining passageways have been so designed, no fluid will exit throughpassageway 45.

The fluid amplifier may be designed so that, instead of applying apositive control jet by means of either of passageways 47 or 48, it ispossible to control the flow of fluid by letting the main fluid enteringchamber 44 through passageway 43 aspirate the control fluid througheither passageway 47 or 48. With this arrangement, if both controlinlets 31 and 32 are closed, fluid entering through inlet 27 and passingthrough passageway 43 into chamber 44, will exit through passageway 45.On the other hand, if

control inlet 31 is opened, fluid entering chamber 44 through passageway43 will aspirate air through passageway 47 and the resulting mixturewill exit through passageway 46.

To more clearly explain the function of control inlets 31 and 32, andthe effect they have upon fluid passing through passageway 43 intochamber 44, it should be understood that the configuration of chamber 44may be Such that control inlet 32 and passageway 48 may be entirelydeleted so that if inlet 31 is closed fluid will pass from passageway 43into passageway 45 and exit through outlet 29 and, if inlet 31 is openedto aspirate air, the fluid passing from passageway 43 into chamber 44will mix with the air and exit through passageway 46 and out throughoutlet 30. Also, if desired, inlet 32 and passageway 48 may becompletely blocked off or may serve as a tuning means whereby a devicesuch as a needle valve is positioned within inlet 32 and adjusted sothat fluid amplifier 28 will convey all fluid entering inlet 27 outthrough outlet 29 when control inlet 31 is prevented from aspirating airbut will direct all fluid out through outlet 30 when control inlet 31 isallowed to aspirate air.

Means are provided to control the admission of air through control inlet31 and include a conduit 49 having a slit 50 in a flexible portionthereof. A cam 51 rotates about a shaft 52, which may be driven by thetimer motor of the sequence control means (not shown), to flex a portionof conduit 49 to open slit 50, as best shown in FIG- URE 3, to allow airaspirate through conduit 49 and control inlet 31.

Fluid amplifier 36 has a passageway 53 interconnecting main inlet 35with a chamber 54. Chamber 54 has passageways 55 and 56 leadingtherefrom to, respectively, outlets 38 and 39. Also, passageways 57 and58 interconnect, respectively, control inlets 40 and 41 with chamber Asmentioned above, the operation of fluid amplifier 36 is substantiallyidentical to that of fluid amplifier 28. In other words, fluid enteringmain inlet 35 will exit through either outlet 38 or outlet 39 dependingupon the freedom of inlet 40 to aspirate air. If inlet 40 is free toaspirate air into chamber 54, fluid entering main inlet 35 will leavechamber 54 through passageway 56 and out through outlet 39. On the otherhand, if inlet 40 is not free to aspirate air, water'entering chamber 54will exit therefrom through passageway 55 and outlet 38. As can be seenfrom FIGURE 1, liquid egressing from fluid amplifier 36 through outlet38 will be directed into wash chamber 12 by means of conduits 42 and 33.Fluid leaving chamber 54 through passageway 56 and outlet 39 will bedirected to a pressure responsive device 59 by conduit 60. Pressureresponsive device 59 is in operative relationship with an electricalswitch 61. Switch 61 may be placed in electrical series circuit with asignal means (not shown) for a purpose to be more fully describedhereinafter.

Control inlet 40 of fluid amplifier 36 communicates with a conduit 62which extends into a container 63. Container 63 is adapted to receiveand contain a liquid additive such as, for example, a rinse aid, liquiddetergent or bleach. Conduit 62 terminates with an open end near thebottom of container 63 so that it will be in liquidreceivingrelationship with any liquid in container 63 until the level of theliquid substantially reaches the bottom of the container. A vent 64 isprovided to allow air to enter container 63 as the liquid is removedtherefrom.

Fluid amplifier 36 is designed such that the liquid entering inlet 35,under normal conditions of operation, has suflicient velocity and massflow as it passes the junction of passageway 57 with chamber 54, toaspirate the liquid within container 63 through conduit 62 and inlet 40to mix with the water passing through chamber 54. The resulting mixtureof water and additive will exit through passageway 55 and outlet 38 toenter wash chamber 12 through conduit 42. This will occur whenever waterenters fluid amplifier 36 under sufiicient velocity and mass flow and aslong as the liquid within container 63 is not depleted. When the liquidwithin container 63 becomes depleted, conduit 62 will draw airtherethrough and into passageway 57. Fluid amplifier 36, being designedto direct its fluid stream out through passageway 56 when inlet 40 isfree to aspirate air, will kick its flow out through outlet 39 at thetime when inlet 40 begins to aspirate air. Inlet 41 may be, as set forthabove with respect to inlet 32 of fluid amplifier 28, completelyblocked 1. Means to selectively dispense a liquid additive into 01f orprovided with a needle valve to serve as a tuning means to adjust fluidamplifier 36 such that all fluid entering inlet 35 will be conveyed outthrough outlet 38 when inlet 40 is prevented from aspirating air butwill have an equally stable mode of operation wherein all fluid will beconveyed out through outlet 39 when inlet 40 is free to aspirate air.

When the liquid entering fluid amplifier 36 is directed out throughoutlet 39, it expands pressure responsive device 59 and actuates switch61. As indicated above, switch 61 may be in electrical series circuitwith a signal means so that the operator of dishwasher will be notifiedthat the liquid within container 63 has been depleted.

A check valve 65 may be provided in conduit 37 to prevent reverse flowfrom fluid amplifier 36 toward fluid amplifier 28 due to any aspiratoryeffect created in passageway 46 when flow through fluid amplifier 28 isthrough passageway 45 and outlet 29.

With the foregoing arrangement, it should now be obvious that when valve24 is opened, flow through fluid amplifier 28 will be out either outlet29 or outlet 30. If cam 51 is in a position wherein slit 50 is closed,and air is not allowed to aspirate through inlet 31, water will exitthrough passageway 45 and outlet 29 to enter wash chamber 12. Becausecam 51 is associated with the sequence control means (not shown) it ismoved to open slit 50 at an appropriate predetermined time. If thepresent invention were being used as a rinse aid injector, this timewould be during the fill of water for the last rinse just prior to thedrying operation. Thus, when water was admitted to wash chamber 12 forthe final rinse, inlet 31 would be free to aspirate air and waterentering fluid amplifier 28 would exit through outlet 30, pass throughconduit 37 and enter fluid amplifier 36 through main inlet 35. If thelevel of rinse air fluid in container 63 was high enough so that theterminal end of conduit 62 was submerged, inlet 40 would not be free toaspirate air and thus the fluid entering fluid amplifier 36 would exitthrough outlet 38 and enter wash chamber 12 through conduits 42 and 33.As mentioned above, as fluid passes through fluid amplifier 36, it wouldaspirate fluid from container 63 so that the fluid exiting throughoutlet 38 would be a mixture of water and rinse aid additive. If, on theother hand, the level of rinse aid additive in container 63 was suchthat conduit 62 were free to aspirate air, the fluid would exit fromfluid amplifier 36 through outlet 39 thus closing switch 61 andenergizing a signal or indicator light to inform the operator of thedishwasher that container 63 must be replenished with rinse aidadditive.

If desired, conduits '60 and 42 could be interconnected so that waterwould still be admitted to wash chamber 12 even though the additive incontainer 63 had been depleted. With such an arrangement, the dishwasherwould continue to operate without the additive and the light wouldremain on during fill for the final rinse.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides a relativelyinexpensive, though reliable, liquid dispensing means especiallysuitable for use in an automatic washing machine although certainly notlimited in its application to such use. The fluid amplifiers illustratedcost only a fraction of the cost of a solenoid operated dispensing meansand, at the same time, have no moving parts subject to wear and eventualmalfunction.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects ofthe invention are not limited to the particular details of theconstruction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated thatother modifications or applications will occur to those skilled in theart. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover suchmodifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

the water admitted to the wash chamber of an automatic washing machinecomprising:

(a) fluid amplifier means having two outlets,

(b) each of said outlets communicating directly with the wash chamber,

(c) said fluid amplifier means having a first inlet through which atleast a portion of the water admitted to the wash chamber must pass,

((1) said fluid amplifier means having a second inlet communicating witha source of liquid additive,

(e) one of said outlets being downstream from said second inlet wherebyliquid passing from said fluid amplifier means out said one of saidoutlets aspirates liquid additive into said fluid amplifier means formixture with the liquid passing therethrough, and

(f) a control inlet in said fluid amplifier means to select the one ofsaid outlets through which liquid will pass from said fluid amplifiermeans.

2. Means to dispense a liquid additive from a container into the washchamber of an automatic washing machine comprising:

(a) a first fluid amplifier having a main inlet, at least one controlinlet and two outlets,

(b) a second fluid amplifier having a main inlet, at

least one control inlet and at least one outlet,

(c) means including a valve interconnecting said main inlet of saidfirst fluid amplifier with a source of water under pressure,

(d) means interconnecting one of said outlets of said first fluidamplifier with the wash chamber,

(e) means interconnecting the other of said outlets of said first fluidamplifier with the main inlet of said second fluid amplifier,

(f) means to control the admission of fluid to said control inlet ofsaid first fluid amplifier,

(g) means interconnecting said control inlet of said second fluidamplifier with the container, and

(h) means interconnecting said outlet of said second fluid amplifierwith the wash chamber,

(i) said second fluid amplifier being designed to aspirate liquid fromthe container through said control inlet of said second fluid amplifieras liquid passes from said main inlet of said second fluid amplifier tosaid outlet of said second fluid amplifier.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said second fluid amplifier furthercomprises a second outlet communicating with a flow responsive switchoperator to operate an electrical switch when flow occurs through saidsecond outlet.

4. The invention of claim 3 further comprising an electrically-operatedindicator controlled by said electrical switch.

5. Means to dispense a liquid from a container into a receptaclecomprising:

(a) a first device comprising:

(aa) a main inlet communicating with a source of liquid under pressure,

(bb) a first outlet communicating with the receptacle,

(cc) a second outlet, and

(dd) a control inlet,

(b) a second device comprising:

(aa) a main inlet communicating with said second outlet of said firstdevice,

(bb) a first outlet communicating with the receptacle,

(cc) a second outlet, and

(dd) a control inlet communicating with the container,

(c) means to control the admission of fluid through said control inletof said first device,

(d) said first device being configurated to direct the liquid enteringsaid first device through said main inlet thereof out through said firstoutlet thereof when fluid is prevented from entering said control inletthereof,

(e) said first device being further configurated to direct the liquidentering said first device through said main inlet thereof out throughsaid second outlet thereof when fluid is allowed to enter said controlinlet thereof,

(f) said second device being configurated to direct the liquid enteringsaid second device through said main inlet thereof out through saidfirst outlet thereof when said control inlet thereof is free to aspirateair,

(g) said second device being further configurated to direct the liquidentering-said second device through said main inlet thereof out throughsaid second outlet thereof when air is prevented from entering saidcontrol inlet thereof,

(b) said second device being adapted to draw liquid from the containerthrough said control inlet thereof to mix with the liquid entering saidmain inlet thereof and to direct the resulting mixture out through saidsecond outlet thereof.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein at least one of said first deviceand said second device has a second control inlet with a valve meansassociated therewith to serve as a tuning means for adjustment of flowcharacteristics through said device.

7. The invention of claim 5 further comprising means responsive to flowthrough said second outlet of said second device to operate anelectrical switch.

8. The invention of claim 7 further comprising indicating meanscontrolled by said electrical switch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, PrimaryExaminer.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

